The story of this man is not a rarity in our current climate; it is becoming the new narrative for many young professionals across the country. We are talking about colorectal cancer, a term that sounds clinical and distant until it moves too close. Simply put, this is cancer that starts in the colon, which is the main part of the large intestine, or the rectum. It often starts as small, non-cancerous clumps of cells called polyps. One should think of these polyps as uninvited guests that, if left long enough, decide to take over the entire house.
Globally, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths. For a long time, it was labelled a Western disease and blamed on the heavily processed diets of North America and Europe. However, the tide has turned dramatically.
In Nigeria, the numbers are climbing at an alarming rate. What makes it particularly dangerous in our context is the age factor. While the developed world sees this mostly in people over fifty, we are seeing a significant number of Nigerians in their 30s and 40s being diagnosed. This suggests that our environmental factors and lifestyle changes are accelerating the biological clock of this disease. We are no longer protected by our geography or our traditional heritage if we do not actively maintain the habits that once kept us healthy.
The truth is that cancer is rarely the result of a single mistake but rather the culmination of accumulated DNA alterations over many years. This is often driven by a combination of genetics, lifestyle choices, and environmental exposures. Diets high in red and processed meats, coupled with low intake of leafy greens and fibre, are major risk factors for developing colorectal cancer. When we char meat or consume preservatives regularly, we introduce compounds that can irritate the lining of the gut over many years. High alcohol consumption, smoking, and physical inactivity create the perfect environment for polyps to thrive. Furthermore, if a close relative had the disease, your risk of developing it is naturally higher. This does not mean you must have it, but it does mean you must be more vigilant than the average person.
We must also acknowledge the role of chronic inflammation, which can stem from untreated infections or long-term digestive issues that we often ignore. The modern Nigerian diet, increasingly reliant on refined sugars and flours, lacks the roughage necessary to move waste through the system efficiently, allowing toxins to linger longer than they should.
Now, the trickiest part about colorectal cancer is its silence. In the early stages, you might feel absolutely fine. But as it progresses, the body starts sending signals that you must learn to read. This might include a change in habits, such as diarrhoea or constipation that lasts for more than a few weeks, or a feeling of incomplete evacuation even after you have just been to the toilet. One might notice blood that is either bright red or very dark and tarry. Persistent discomfort like cramps or gas that does not go away with simple remedies is another sign, as is unexplained weight loss. If you find yourself losing weight without trying to, your body may be fighting something you cannot afford to ignore. Fatigue is also a major indicator; if you are constantly exhausted despite sleeping well, it may be because the tumour is causing slow, internal blood loss that leads to anaemia. Many people mistake this for general stress or overwork, but it is often the body shouting for attention.
The danger of colorectal cancer is not just the cancer itself; it is the delay in seeking help. When colorectal cancer spreads, it most commonly travels to the liver and, less frequently, to the lungs, abdominal lining, or other distant organs. This is what sometimes makes it more challenging to manage.
In Nigeria, the stigma surrounding issues of the bowels or the fear of a bad report leads many to seek herbal cures or spiritual interventions first. While faith and traditional knowledge have their place, they should not replace a diagnostic scan. By the time many patients return to a hospital after these alternative routes, the window for a simple cure has often closed. This delay is what turns a manageable condition into a terminal one. Furthermore, there is a common misconception that if there is no pain, there is no problem. In reality, by the time cancer causes significant pain, it has often progressed to a stage where treatment is much more aggressive and difficult to handle.
The truth is that, if caught early, colorectal cancer is one of the most treatable and even curable forms of the disease. Management often involves surgery, where doctors can simply remove the affected section of the colon. In many cases, if the cancer is caught at the polyp stage, it can be removed during a simple colonoscopy without any external incisions at all. For more advanced cases, chemotherapy and radiation are used to shrink tumours or kill off remaining cells. Modern medicine now also allows the use of targeted therapy and immunotherapy to attack specific proteins that help cancer grow, offering hope even to those with complex diagnoses. The medical landscape in Nigeria is evolving, with more centres gaining the capacity to handle these procedures, but the effectiveness of these treatments still depends heavily on how early the patients present themselves to the clinic.
If you are over 45, or younger if you have symptoms or a family history, you must get a colonoscopy. It is the gold standard and most effective test that can help detect and prevent cancer by allowing for the immediate removal of precancerous polyps before they turn into cancer. Fibre must become an inalienable part of your diet, so make sure you take plenty of local grains, vegetables, and fruits. They act like a broom, sweeping your colon clean and ensuring that waste does not sit against your intestinal walls for too long. Furthermore, you must move your body, as 30 minutes of walking a day significantly lowers your risk by improving circulation and digestion. Reducing the intake of highly processed oils and sugary drinks also plays a massive role in maintaining the integrity of your digestive lining.
Most importantly, you must listen to your gut. If something feels off for more than two weeks, see a specialist. We are fond of hiding illnesses that involve private parts of the body because of a misplaced sense of shame. But cancer does not care about your modesty or your social standing. It thrives on your silence and your hesitation.
Ultimately, the burden of health is one that no one else can carry for you. So, check your habits, history, and stool. Your life depends on your willingness to look behind you and take charge of what is happening inside. And we must cultivate a culture where talking about bowel health is as normal as talking about a headache. By stripping away the mystery and the shame, we can stop this silent disease from taking root in and ravaging our health and lives.
Thanks for the feedback mate!